Here is some great news for native plant lovers:

FREE Native Plant and Seed Swap
JAKES BRANCH NATURE CENTER
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

This sounds like a super event.  Local organizations will be on hand with displays, literature and resources on the benefits of native plants and "green" gardening.  There will be nature walks, free seeds and seedlings, and you can even make your own seedling pots!
Also, you are encouraged to bring your own native plants or seeds to swap.  Please label each item with the common and scientific names, collections date and location.

For more information call Jakes Branch County Park 732-281-2750 or visit their website www.oceancountyparks.org.   The event is sponsered by Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Importance of Native Plants
by  Judy DeFiglio

Garden like your life depends on it- it does.  That’s my message today after hearing a riveting lecture by Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home- How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware.  I highly recommend that everyone read this fascinating book. It gives such insight into the crucial role of native plants in our environment. There are lots of beautiful pictures as well.

“Plants are not optional on this planet.” Says Tallamy, “With few exceptions, neither we, nor anything else, can live without them.”  He continues to explain that because food for all animals (man included) starts with plants, the plants that we grow in our gardens have a critical role. Unfortunately, when a home is built, the native vegetation is totally cleared, and replaced with a large lawn and a few ornamental plants of alien origin.  Often we don’t even know what is growing in our garden because a landscaper just planted some pretty, popular plants from who knows where.  We have 40 million acres of lawn in the US. Only 5% of the land in the US is undisturbed habitat.

There are over 4 million miles of road in the US.  Then add in all the parking lots, driveways and other paved surfaces and you see why we have a rapidly growing problem.  An example of this impact according to Tallamy is that between 1990 and 2000 the Delaware Bay Watershed saw a 40% increase in impervious cover.  By 2002 41% of all native plant species in Delaware are threatened and 41% of their bird species that depended on forest cover are rare or absent.  Our own Barnegat Bay watershed could be facing similar problems.

Why is it so important to grow and/or preserve native plants? The food web depends on it. Many of our native insects will only feed on specific native plants. They cannot eat the alien species. In addition, many of our alien ornamentals were specifically bred to be insect resistant so they do not support insect life.  Add to this, that many birds need specific native insects to survive and so forth up the food chain.  While most people are correct when they think birds eat seeds and berries, actually 96% of our terrestrial birds eat insects in the spring and need them to feed their young. Other mammals also eat insects.

Too often gardeners are taught that insects are bad.  They grab the pesticide as soon as they see a bug.  If we eliminate every insect in our garden, we also eliminate the birds, the frogs, the hummingbirds and the butterflies.  Studies have shown that planting native plants and encouraging biodiversity in our gardens will keep the insects in check without having to resort to insecticides. Insects may nibble on the plants but birds & toads will come to eat the insects.  Yes, caterpillars will eat some of your leaves, but, you need caterpillars to have butterflies!

I hope you will go outside today and evaluate your landscape.  See where you can make some simple changes.  If you have a plant that needs replacing choose a native.  If you are adding to your garden explore the wide variety of native plants available instead of choosing alien species. Reduce the size of your lawn and replant the area with natives.  Each of us can make a difference in the environment by just making these simple choices.

As mentioned in my previous blog, the native plant trail and demonstration gardens at Jakes Branch County Park are progressing. Most of the native plants for the trail have been planted and the demonstration gardens are scheduled to be planted in the late spring. What great news for all of us who are interested in using native plants, bayscaping and helping to protect Barnegat Bay.  Workshops on native plants and protecting Barnegat Bay will held this summer and I’ll post that information as soon as it is announced.  

 Enjoy this great spring weather and the beautiful Eastern Redbud Cercis Canadensis blooming right now.

Eastern Redbud    Cercis canadensis

Spring Check List

By Judy DeFiglio

All I can say is WOW what a winter this has
been. It’s hard to believe that last
year we spent the entire winter buried under a foot of snow and this year we
never had more than a dusting. No, I
will not get into my thoughts on global warming, but March has just arrived and
I already have flowers blooming. The
weatherman is predicting a high of 67 today and when I finish this blog you can
bet I am heading out to the garden. I
will take a walk around and make a list of chores that need to be done.

Garden cleanup is a must ASAP. My perennials are emerging way ahead of
schedule and due to a back injury I never finished my fall cleanup, so removing
the old stems and raking the beds is a critical task. One word of caution, even
if it’s a beautiful day stay out of the garden if the soil is wet or you will
compact the soil and damage your garden.

Next on the list, I take all the leaves I
raked up, and head to the compost pile. I’ll add some of the leaves to the pile and
save the rest to add throughout the season. This will keep my compost balanced when I start adding the grass
clippings once mowing starts. While I am
at the compost pile I’ll fill my wheelbarrow with some of the rich, finished compost
that has been cooking all winter. I will
top dress my garden beds with the compost. Compost is the #1 thing you can do
for your garden. It enriches the soil,
it enhances the plants so no fertilizer is needed, it’s safe for the
environment, it’s organic, it takes tons of material that would otherwise be
added to our landfills and creates
“black gold” for your garden, it reduces pests and diseases on your plants and
it’s FREE!

If you don’t have a compost pile or bin,
make starting one the next project on your to do list. Even the smallest property has the room. You can even make compost in a garbage can.
Done correctly, there is no smell and little work, and did I mention it’s FREE!

Checking the list we move to digging and
dividing the perennials. Some I will
divide because they grew too large last year, others because I want more of a
particular plant. Some perennials I will
move to a new spot because I think they will look better. All of these projects are easy to do. Just
dig around the perimeter of the plant, digging deep enough to get the roots.
Lift the plant out of the hole and slice it into sections being careful not to
cut off the roots, then replant one section in the hole and plant the other
divisions where desired or give them away to a fellow gardener. That’s one of
the great things about natives, they are such great plants that you can dig
them, move them, and share them with others with very little effort.

If adding a new garden bed to your
landscape is on your list, now is a great time to do it. Decide the location, turn the soil, and don’t
forget to add the compost to get your garden off to a great start. Did I mention it’s FREE? You can then plant
seeds, use some of the plants you divided and/or purchase some new ones. This would be a great opportunity to add a
native plant garden or just incorporate some new natives in an existing
bed. For lots of information and ideas
read the older posts on this blog and check out the Littoral Society’s website www.littoralsociety.org for native plant bayscaping designs.

Now the part of the list I admit I
dread. Pull those weeds. A few small weeds ignored now will be a yard
full of large, monster weeds by summer. It’s easy to pull weeds by hand when they are just emerging in spring.
No herbicide needed. Besides it’s great
exercise.

Last on my list for now is mulch. A nice 3 inch layer of organic mulch will
prevent those weeds I just mentioned and also conserve moisture so you won’t
have to spend more time and money watering.

If you have made the move to gardening
with native plants your spring garden chores are now done. If you still have that high maintenance
garden full of exotics continue on for an endless list of fertilizing, applying
pesticides, watering, pampering, sweating, and spending lots of money.

Update
on Jakes Branch Demonstration Project

Great news
for native plant fans: You’ll soon be able to see all your favorite natives up
close and personal at Ocean County’s Jakes Branch County Park. Started last year, several environmental
organizations are combining their effort and plans are in the works to create a
multifaceted demonstration site that will promote “Barnegat Bay Friendly”
landscaping practices. Under the auspices of the Barnegat Bay Partnership the
participant are the Ocean County Soil Conservation, Rutgers University, Ocean
Parks and the Jakes Branch Staff, The Littoral Society, Rutgers Cooperative
Extension and Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. There will be a native plant trail so you can
observe natives in their natural state and also a native plant demonstration
garden so you can learn how you can use native plants in your own garden. Included
in the project will be demonstration sites showing alternatives to lawns, and the
latest stormwater management. Workshops
and activities will provide a wide variety of information on ways to improve the
health of the Barnegat Bay ecosystem. Stay tuned for more updates.

Bayscape Blog 11/2/11
Native Plant List

What a great turnout today for our Littoral Society presentation on Bayscaping for Barnegat Bay that was held at Crestwood Village. As promised, here is the list of Native Plants that were recommended. Check out the previous blogs for additional information on these great plants and more.

Native Trees & Shrubs
Amelanchier canadensis- serviceberry
Aronia arbutifolia- chokeberry
Cercis Canadensis- redbud
Clethra alnifolia- sweet pepperbush
Fothergilla gardenii- bottlebrush bush
Hydrangea quercifolia- oakleaf hydrangea
Ilex glabra- inkberry holly
Itea virginica- Virgina sweetspire
Kalmia latifolia- mountain laurel
Magnolia virginiana- sweetbay magnolia
Myrica pensylvanica- northern bayberry
Prunus maritima- beach plum
Viburnum dentatum- arrowood

Native Perennials
Amsonia tabernaemontana- blue star
Aquilegia canadensis- columbine
Aruncus diocicus- goats beard
Asclepia incarnata- swamp milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa- butterfly weed
Aster novae-angliae- New England Aster
Baptisia australis- false indigo
Coreopsis lanceolata- lance leaf tickseed
Clematis virginiana- sweet autumn clematis
Echinacea purpurea- purple coneflower
Eupatorium coelestinum- hardy ageratum
Eupatorium perfoliatum- boneset
Gaillardia- blanket flower
Helenium autumnale- sneezeweed
Heliopsis helianthoides- false sunflower
Hibiscus moschuetos- hardy hibiscus
Liatris spicata- gayfeather
Lobelia cardinalis- cardinal flower
Monarda didyma- bee balm
Oenothera fruiticosa- sundrops
Penstamon digitalis- foxglove beard tongue
Rudbeckia hirta- black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba- brown-eyed Susan
Solidago sempervirens -seaside goldenrod

Another Successful "Bayscape for Barnegat Bay"

Native Plant Demonstration GardenProgram reduces water use, fertilizers, pesticides and creates natural habitats Supports Governor Christie's Goal for Public Education

Toms River, Ocean County: On Monday, October 31st, the American Littoral Society announced the completion of another "Bayscape for Barnegat Bay" native plant garden project.The Laurel Commons Condominium Association, located off Old Freehold Road in the Long Swamp Creek subwatershed of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay, unveiled 3 native plant demonstration gardens that will serve as natural landscape alternatives that can be replicated throughout their 22-acre, 220 unit community and also be used as models for other communities to follow suit.

The gardens were designed by the Society's native plant consultant and horticulturist, Judy DeFiglio of Garden Guidance. The installation and hardscaping were provided by Down to Earth Landscaping.

Helen Henderson, Policy Advocate said Laurel Commons is a leader in community stewardship for protecting and restoring Barnegat Bay. "From the Society's perspective, it is especially important for homeowners in the highly developed areas of the Barnegat Bay watershed like Toms River to see examples of good stewardship like this," she stated. "We are fortunate that the association's board wanted to be proactive in doing their part to protect and restore the Bay through their personal landscape choices".

On October 22nd at the Society's 50th Annual Meeting in Cape May, Laurel Commons Condominium Association was conferred the organization's Citizen Advocate Award.The condo association's Vice-President Paul Krauss contacted the Society 2 years ago amidst growing concerns he had about the declining health of the Bay."I was greatly disturbed by what I saw happening. Stinging sea nettles and algae blooms were causing my grandchildren to stop participating in 'Grandpa's Camp' which for years consisted of boating, water skiing and swimming in the Bay" stated Krauss. "My grandchildren simply didn't want to come in contact with the polluted water anymore so I was forced to sell my boat".

Mr. Krauss, currently Vice-President of the community's board, contacted the Society and took the lead in convincing his homeowner's association to take actions on their property to help restore Barnegat Bay. To that end, the community will be reducing their lawn areas by 20%; replacing ornamental gardens onsite with native plant gardens; and participating in stormwater basin studies and retrofits to reduce nutrient pollution in stormwater runoff (nitrogen and phosphorus) that are harming the Bay.

The gardens at Laurel Commons are the latest in the series of "Bayscape" gardens being installed throughout the watershed as part of the Society's Shore Stewards program. The program, aimed at reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides; conserving water; and creating improved habitats for species such as birds, bees and butterflies supports the Public Education Action Item #8 of Governor Christie's Barnegat Bay Plan.

The condo association committed $10,000 of their own money to the "Bayscape" project, with help from matching funds the Society received from the Trust for Public Land's Barnegat Bay Environmental Grant Fund. The project will be identified with signage on the property.

Additional "Bayscape for Barnegat Bay" gardens have been completed in the Bay's watershed, including: numerous private homeowner residences; the Maris Stella Retreat and Conference Center in Harvey Cedars, LBI; the Morning Star Presbyterian Church, Bayville; and plans are currently underway for a garden at Jake's Branch County Park, Berkeley.

This year, the Society also enlisted its first official "Bayscape" retail nursery supplier at Hammett's Garden Center in Forked River.

For those interested in learning more about "Bayscaping", the Society will hold a workshop this Wednesday, November 2nd at the Hilltop Clubhouse, Crestwood Village 5, 325 School House Road, Whiting, NJ 08759 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Helen Henderson at 732.575.5701

About the American Littoral Society: The American Littoral Society is a membership-based, coastal conservation non-profit organization headquartered on Sandy Hook in Highlands New Jersey. For more than 50 years, it has empowered people to care for the coast through advocacy, conservation, and education. To learn more, visit www.littoralsociety.orghttp://www.littoralsociety.orghttp//www.littoralsociety.org/.

About the Trust for Public Land: The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. TPL has protected more than 24,000 acres in New Jersey, including over 11,000 acres in the Barnegat Bay watershed. To learn more, visit w.tpl.org/newjerseyhttp://www.tpl.org/newjersey.

About the Laurel Commons Condominium Association: The Laurel Commons Condominium Association represents the residents of Laurel Commons, a 22-acre community of 230 condominium units on Carnation Circle in Toms River, NJ that has been serving the community for over 20 years.

Beautyberry- Callicarpa americana


Bayscape Blog 10/7/11

The Fall Garden

by Judy DeFiglio

No one can argue that the flowers of spring and summer are gorgeous and plentiful, but if you think that your garden is done when summer ends, boy are you wrong! There is so much to see and enjoy in the fall garden, and if you’ve been including native plants in your landscape you will really get a beautiful autumn spectacular.

Many of our native perennials are bursting with colorful flowers. Deep, rich shades of purple, pink and yellow can light up your landscape. New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) not only gives your garden beautiful late season color but also provides food for butterflies. Goldenrod (Solidago) add sprays of bright yellow to the scene. Another yellow fall bloomer with a unique blossom is Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale. For a wetter site, chose pink Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum). These tall natives are a real focal point and also attract butterflies.

You can leave the seed heads of spent summer blooms to give additional texture and create interest to your garden bed. This will also attract a wide variety of birds to your yard. They are fun to watch and provide extra color. For instance, goldfinches absolutely love the seeds of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). The sight of these bright yellow birds perched on the black seed heads makes your garden pop with color.

Don’t forget the autumn leaves. Fall color is an important part of your landscape design. Be sure to include leaf color when you plan your landscape. Lots of people know the leaf color of their trees, but, you can really extend your fall season of interest if you also include shrubs and perennials that have interesting leaf color.

While on the subject of leaves, don’t forget the evergreens. An evergreen tree or shrub will provide a green background for blooms all year long. It also gives you something colorful and interesting to look at when all the rest of the leaves are gone. A good choice for a versatile native, evergreen shrub is Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra). Unlike traditional holly, the leaves are small and smooth. It is more “user friendly” no need to worry about getting stabbed by sharp leaves. Inkberry can be pruned or sheared to keep it more compact, or even shaped, if that’s your style. No flashy flowers, but it has interesting black berries in fall. It blends well with all other plant material in your garden and helps create winter interest.

Many native shrubs deliver a bonus to the fall garden with their berry displays. The American beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) has dense clusters of violet berries, while the Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) has abundant red berries that last throughout the winter. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) is not an evergreen holly. It loses its leaves, the better to see its dense bright red berries. The elderberries, black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) with its purple-black fruit or red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) are a worthy addition to the fall garden. These shrubs do tend to get large but if you have the space they make quite an impact.

No discussion on fall gardens would be complete without including ornamental grasses. This is certainly when they look their best. As may be expected, I recommend planting some of the great native ornamental grasses. If you want a large, impressive display, try Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a 3 to 4 foot tall blue-green grass with attractive fall and winter color. If space is an issue, plant Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and elegant bunch grass that grows 18 to 36 inches tall and turns a rich shade of red in the fall.

Fall is a beautiful time in the garden. In addition, all of these natives I’ve suggested not only add color and interest to your landscape, but also are low maintenance and good for the environment. You don’t need to fertilize them so there is no fertilizer run- off to pollute our waterways. Isn’t it great when everyone wins!

Remember to become a Shore Steward. You don’t have to live on the shore to make a difference in the quality of the water flowing into Barnegat Bay. Don’t landscape, Bayscape. Choosing native plants will give you a beautiful landscape that requires no fertilization, so there will be much less pollution flowing into the waterways. Go to www.littoralsociety.org for more information.